South Carolina’s Stephen Garcia is keeping his nose clean and his hair cut.

And while the school is saying all the cautiously correct things…

There has been speculation Garcia could be allowed to rejoin the team earlier if he completes the requirements. But USC athletics director Eric Hyman has given no indication he would lift Garcia’s suspension before Aug. 15.

“You know what the plan is,” Hyman told reporters this week. “You’ll have to go back to the university and the guidelines that he’s been asked to follow.”

… you know what Spurrier is thinking.

… If the 6-foot-2, 221-pound Garcia rejoins the team, he will begin the fall behind Tommy Beecher and Chris Smelley on the depth chart. Spurrier tabbed Beecher his No. 1 quarterback after a spring game that featured erratic quarterback play and a combined eight interceptions by Smelley (five) and Beecher (three).

Beecher has not started a game since his senior year at Concord (N.C.) High in 2004, while Smelley was 4-2 as a starter last season before Blake Mitchell reclaimed the No. 1 spot.